Carrier for braiding machines



w. E. COOK 2,033,924

' CARRIER FOR BRAIDING MAGHINE S Filed Sept. 26, 19 4 was;2.522% m/ lNVENTOR Fatentecl Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES ATET" FFICE 12 Claims.

The invention relates to carriers for braiding machinesand more particularly to a carrier of the type having a vertically extending spindle for the reception of the cop.

Carriers of the type to which the invention relates are mounted upon-the top plate of a braiding machine, and are moved by a series of gears in a sinuous path about the axis of the plate as determined by cam grooves in the plate. When 'forming a tubular braid, the carriers move throughout a full circle, but when forming a flat braid, they have movement throughout only a portion of the circle and then their movement is reversed. A plurality of carriers are used upon such braiding machines, and carriers adjacent each intersection of the cam slots closely appreach each other, so that in the event of ballooning of the yarn there is likelihood of the yarn from one cop becoming entangled with parts of a closely adjacent carrier, and this likelihood is greatly increased when the wear upon the cam slots, or upon the shoe upon the carrier co-operating therewith, occurs to an extent to permit substantial side sway of the carrier.

The in and out movement ofthe carriers, or their radial component in relation to the axis of the top plate, as they follow the sinuous cam grooves, imparts to the yarn from each cop .a necessary oblique trend axially of the top plate because ef the lineal traverse of the previously formed braid, or of the material upon which the braid is being formed, the timed radial movement of succeeding carriers causing the entwining of the yarn after it is withdrawn from the cops on these carriers in a manner well known.

rier away from said axis, during which time yarn is drawn from the cop. This is to prevent what is known as whipping of the yarn between the carriers and the braid being formed. In some carriers, tension devices are used to supplement the ru of the yarn. V

In the type of carrier described in my co -pendthe traveler in preventing whipping, by retarding ing application Serial No, 719,249, a bufier spring.

is provided which develops resistance to the u ward'movement of the travelertowar-d the limit of "this movement, to ensure a rapid taking up of slack and to aid in the withdrawing of yarn from the cop. This buffer spring also has a tendency to equalize the tension applied to the yarn when forming the braid. In the said carrier, a special form of brake plate is used which acts directly upon the yarn upon the cop to prevent possible overrunning of the cop in a manner to create slack between the cop and the traveler.

W'hen undue wear has not occurred upon the shoe of the carrier and the cam slot along which it has movement, the carrier of my aforesaid application has been found to give highly satisfactory results. When the parts are worn, however, swaying of the carrier at times results in the bringing of the run of the yarn between the traveler and the lead-off eye of one carrier into engagement with parts of another carrier, thus causing the breakage oithe yarn due to the pull thereon with opposite travel-of the two carriers. This results from slight, momentary ballooning of this reach of the yarn resulting from a rapid upward movement of the traveler. Cops are diiierently wound. In' some spirally Wound cops, two convolutions occur along the length of the cop. Others may have three or four convolutions. When drawing the yarn from the cop, the point at which it leaves will, at different times, extend from the extreme top to the extreme bottom of the cop. The usual practice in carriers is to provide an eye intermediate the top and bottom of an upright along which a traveler has movement, thus causing a constant change and wide variance in the angle of the yarn from the cop to this eye. Toward the bottom of the cop, with some yarns, there is a tendency of the yarn to escape from the lower edge of the winding upon the cop and become entangled with the parts of the carrier below the cop and thus cause breakage of the yarn.

By my present invention, I provide a carrier wherein the reach of the yarn between the traveler and the lead-off eye is so confined by a collapsible member as to prevent its engagement with other carriers during the operation of a braiding machine. One end or the collapsible member is engageable by the traveler and the other end is secured adjacent the lead-off eye. By this construction, a. free run of the yarn is permitted, and the desired tautness in the yarn, by other agencies in the carrier, may be secured.

As will more fully appear hereinafter, the collapsible confining member is preferably in the form of a long spiral spring, thus combining in this member the three-fold function of a restraining means preventing ballooning of the yarn, a

resistance to movement of the traveler ensuring a desired tautness in the run of the yarn from the carrier to the braid, and an accelerator for reversing the movement of the traveler to minimize whip of the yarn between the lead-off eye and the braid. When such a spring is used, a guide therefor is provided to limit bulging of the spring. With this construction, there is no danger of the yarn becoming entangled with the coils of the spring, since the portion thereof within the spring is always sufficiently taut to avoid slack which might be engaged between succeeding coils.

In conjunction with the yarn confining means above referred to, I provide .an upright upon which the traveler is mounted, having therein a vertically extending elongated slot,'thus permitting the yarn in passing through this upright to follow the traveler within substantially the maximum range of its movements, and permitting the yarnto run from the copito the traveler without excessive .change in .the angularity of the reach thereof'between 'the traveler and the cop. This feature 'is particularly desirable in connection witha carrier of the type in which a retard or brakeplate isspring pressed against the surface .of the.cop,. since likelihood of breakage of the yarndueLtorweak spots therein is reduced to a minimum, and there is greater uniformity'in the-resistance .to the run of the yarn where there is no .abruptbend thereof, as when an eye is positioned intermediate the top and bottom of .the carrier upright.

"I also providein.acarrierembodying the invention, a retard or'brake plate of a vertical length including a substantial portion of the length of the cop, thus minimizing likelihood of the looseningof theconvolutions of the yarn upon the cop andthe consequent bunching'thereof in a manner to interfere with .the free run of the yarn or to permit a run thereof without restraint from said plate.

Inorder to equalizelthe resistance to the turning movement of the cop, the brake plate is so formed that with a decreasein the diameter of the cop, the contact area between the brake plate and the surface of'the cop will be progressively reduced in order tocompensate'for the increase in speed ofthe cop as it'lessens in diameter. This feature is an incident to'the carrier structure of my aforesaid co-pending application.

With the pivotal movement of the plate, the effectiveleverage atwhich it acts upon the cop is diminished. 'This solely is not relied upon to secure a desired approximate uniformity in the resistance to the turning movement of the cop, the brake plate, as stated, being so curved as to secure the variable contact area above referred to.

To prevent'the slippage of the lowermost convolutions of yarn upon the cop from the lower edge of the woundportion of theyarn, and the entanglement of this yarn with-the mechanisms ofthe carrier'below'the spool of the cop or between the spool and the'spindle'I provide a cup, the topof which is positioned above the bottom of the copso as to impart a lift to the yarn being "drawn from adjacent the bottom of the cop. This cup also prevents the yarn falling a sufficient 'distance'belowthe bottom of the cop tocome into contact with'the-parts of the carrier below.

The invention consists primarily -.in a carrier for braiding machines embodying therein a base providedwith a vertical spindle-adapted to have a cop rotatably mounted -thereon, and means whereby travel may be imparted to the carrier, an upright paralleling said spindle having a vertically elongated opening therethrough for the run of the yarn, and a lead-off eye adjacent the top thereof, and means for controlling the run of yarn from the cop and for applying tensioning stresses to the yarn embodying therein a traveler slidably mounted upon said upright for movement along the portion of said upright having said elongated opening therein toward and from said lead-off eyeabout which the yarn passes in its run from said opening to said lead-off eye, and a collapsible confining member at one side of said upright, one end of which is engageable by said traveler, and the other end of which extends to adjacent said lead-off eye; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts, as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig.'1 is a front view of a carrier embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a back view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a condensed view of the yarn threading device.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing, the carrier has a base Ill provided with parallel flanges I I and I2 adapted to embrace the opposite edges of the sinuous cam slot in the top plate of a braiding machine, and a bottom pivot [3 adapted to be engaged by slots upon the actuating gears of the braiding machine.

Carried by said plates is a vertical spindle I 4 upon which the core l5 of a cop I6 of yarn is adapted to be rotatably mounted. The core, as shown in the drawing, is of the headless type, although such head ends may be used if desired. The cop is of the side draw type having a standard oblique winding.

Intermediate the flanges II and I2 is the usual shoe l1 co-operating with the edges of the cam slot to impart sinuous movement to the carriers. This means imparting travel to the carriers is old and well known in the art.

.Carried-bythe plate ll isan upwardly'extending upright paralleling the spindle M. In the form of the invention shown, this upright is formed of two round rods l8 and I9 spaced apart to form an elongated slot through which the yarn may pass and follow the traveler in its vertical movement in a manner to be hereinafter referred to.

To define the length of the slot in its relation to the movement of the yarn, I provide upper and lower stops 20 and 2| extending across the space between said rods, the ends of which do not exten'd'beyond the rods 18 and IE to an extent to interfere with the free movement of the traveler, particularly as toits downward movement. This is necessary to permit the actuation of the automatic stop mechanism commonly used in braiding machines.

Surmounting the rods l8 and I9 isa head fitting 22 carrying a lead-off eye 23 in a position intermediate the axis of said rods and at one side thereof. Extending from the head fitting 1-2 is a smallguide rod 24, the lower end of which is secured to the base I0 in any desired manner. To control the run of the yarn from the cop andapply tensioning stresses thereto, I provide means including therein a traveler 25 slidably mounted upon the upright formed by the rods l8 and I9. This traveler is of the usual construction having a recess 26 at .a point intermediate the rods l8 and I9, and shoes 2'! bearing upon the edges of the upright and guiding the movement of said traveler.

.In addition to the use of the traveler 25 for the purpose described, I provide a coiled spring 28,

one end of which extends to adjacent the head fitting 22 and the other end of which bears upon the top of the traveler 25. This spring is of light tension and its coils encircle the small guide rod 24, which is positioned rearwardly of the traveler in a position substantially centrally of the space between the rods l8 and IS. The diameter of the spring is considerably larger than that of its guide rod 24 affording space for the run of the yarn from the traveler to the lead-off eye 23. This run of the yarn through the coils of the spring confines this reach of the yarn in a manner to avoid all possibility of ballooning, col-.

the spring. 28, actual practice has demonstrated that the spring 28 alone affords an adequate safewithin the spring is, during the collapsing of the spring, held taut by the traveler and other parts of the means controlling the run of the yarn from the cop and applying tensioning stresses thereto.

The main function of the traveler 25 is to take up slack in the yarn while the carrier is having a component of movement toward the braid being formed, andto feed out yarn while the carrier is having an outward component of movement, and incidentally to assist in drawing yarn from the cop as it is required during such outward movement of the carrier. The spring 28 assists the traveler in both of these functions. This relieves the yarn from excessive or irregular stresses both in paying out the yarn through the lead-off eye and in drawing yarn from the cop.

In withdrawing yarn therefrom, the cop is turned by successive short impulses and it is desirable to limit the amount of yarn withdrawn to that which can be readily taken up by reciprocatory movement of the traveler so as to avoid the creation of slack between the traveler and the cop. To prevent unrestricted turning movement of the cop, I mount upon the base I0, a rod 29 encircled by a torsion spring 30, one end of which is secured to said rod and the otherend of which bears upon a brake plate 3| pivotally mounted upon said rod. This plate 3! is of sheet metal and is formed in an irregular curve so that the area of contact between this plate and the yarn upon the cop will be greatest when the cop is at its maximum diameter and will progressively decrease with the lessening of the diameter of the cop.

This arrangement is for the purpose of developing a predetermined braking action by the plate 3| when the cop has the slowest and shortest movement in drawing agiven quantity of yarn therefrom, and to substantially maintain this breaking action by decreasing the contact area as the speed of movement of the cop increases with its. lessening diameter. It is unnecessary to form the plate 3| with any great accuracy so as to establish a fixed ratio between the braking area and the speed. of the cop, the construction and mode of operation of the carrier not lending itself to any such nicety. As the diameter of the cop decreases, however, the effective leverage at which the brake plate acts and the lessening of the tension of the spring 30 do not reduce the braking action sufficiently to develop the desired resistance to the turning of the cop with increased speed thereof with such lessening of its diameter. Hence, by forming the plate as described, the resistance to turning movement of the cop may be maintained approximately uniform by reducing the braking area in substantial proportion to the increase of the speed of the cop.

No friction lining for the brake plate is required since this plate engages the yarn which is sufficiently soft to develop the desired frictional resistance between it and the plate.

In obliquely wound cops, there is a tendency for the yarn in its run from the surface of the cop to become entangled with other convolutions of the yarn of the cop, by reason of the falling of the. convolutions of the yarn in case of looseness in the winding of the yarn. To min imize likelihood of this occurring, I preferably make the plate of a height to overlay the yarn throughout a, substantial. portion of the length of the cop, thus tending to confine the convolutions of the yarn so that with the run thereof vertically of the top, there is little or no possibility of the bunching of the yarn in the manner described.

Inthe operation of braiding machines, the yarn asit reaches the bottom of the cop, in its vertical run, is liable at times before changing from a downward to an upward movement, to drop below the bottom of the winding upon the cop, thus creating excessive slack, which must be taken up by the carrier. As this slack is taken up, the loose yarn below the winding is drawn toward the core of the cop and the spindle l4, and sometimes catches between the core of the cop and the top plate I! of the base or the stud 32 projecting therefrom and serving as a support for said core.

To obviate this condition, I provide means encircling and projecting above the bottom of the cop so that'as the yarn in its run from the cop, approaches the bottom of the winding thereof, it will receive an upward lift suflicient to prevent the run of the lowermost part of the winding cop is at approximately its greatest diameter, the

run of the yarn over the top edge of the side flange 33 will prevent falling of the yarn from the winding of the top in the manner above referred to.-

In Fig. 5, I have shown a threading device used in drawing the yarn upwardly through the spring 28. This device consists of a length of wire 35 having at one end thereof, a hook 36 similar to that of a crochet needle. The wire is of a length to permit it to be inserted through the lead-off eye 23 through and beyond the spring while exposing the end thereof above said eye to permit the withdrawal of the threading device from the spring during the threading operation.

The operation of the herein described carrier is substantially as follows:-

As is well known in the art, a braiding machine is equipped with a number of carriers and when preparing for the run of a machine, the spindle M of each carrier has a cop mounted thereon. In mounting the cop, it is merely necessary for the operator to move the brake plate 3| outwardly against the tension of its spring and mount the core I5 of the cop upon the spindle M, the bottom of said core resting upon the support 32. The brake plate is then released and. is engaged by its spring with the periphery of the yarn upon the cop. The threading device 35 is then passed through the lead-off eye 23 with its hooked end 36 downward and the traveler 25 is raised against the tension of the spring 28 until it is positioned above the lower stop 2|. The looped end of the yarn is then passed through the elongated slot between the rods l8 and I9 above the stop 2| and below the traveler and engaged with the hooked end 36 of the threading device. This device is then drawn upwardly carrying the yarn through the recessed portion 26 of the traveler through the coils of the spring 28 and outwardly of the lead-off eye 23. The traveler may then be released, the operator retaining control of the yarn beyond the lead-off eye 23.

During the operation of a braiding machine, movement of a carrier toward the braid being formed has a tendency to create slack in the run of the yarn between the carrier and the braid being formed. When tying in the end of the yarn, the pull then raises the traveler 25 against the tension of the spring 28 by reason of the resistance ofiered to the turning movement of the cop by the brake plate 3|. If the traveler is raised too high, there may be a turning movement imparted to the cop notwithstanding the resistance of said brake plate.

The spring 28 being substantially in axial alinement with the lead-off eye 23 and extending over the recess 26 in the traveler, affords a clear path for the run of the yarn from the traveler to said lead-off eye. The weight of the traveler and the action of the spring 28 do not exert a suflicient pull upon the yarn to impart any movement to the cop when the braiding machine is at rest, such movement resulting only from the tensioning of the spring 28.

While a braiding machine is in operation, as the carrier has movement toward the braid being formed, the slack between the carrier and the braid, representing yarn in excess of that incorporated in the braid due to the radial movement of the carrier, is taken up by downward movement of the traveler partly by gravity and partly by the expansion of the spring 28. With the outward movement of the carrier, the traveler is raised and the yarn is tensioned, and the meshes of the braid closed by resistance to that upward movement of the traveler by the tension of the spring 28 and the resistance to the turning movement of the cop during the final stage of this upward movement.

The carriers move rapidly, and during upward movement of the traveler, its moving inertia or momentum, notwithstanding the resistance of the spring which is not great, may pay out yarn so rapidly as to create slack between the traveler and the lead-off eye. When the carriers are worn they are inclined to sway radially of the braid, and this swaying action may also create slack at the point mentioned. If this occurs, when two carriers going in opposite directions are closely adjacent each other at the intersection of the two sinuous cam grooves, such slack, were it not for the telescopic member or spring 28, might, and sometimes did become entangled with parts of the adjacent carrier, thus causing the breakage of the yarn thus entangled. The action of the traveler 25 and its spring 28, in addition to the functions already stated, limits the stresses applied to the yarn during the outward movement of the carrier, and at the same time in conjunction with the means used to resist turning of the cop, ensures the application of the desired stresses. With increase in the tension of the spring 28, the resistance to the movement of the traveler increases and when the spring has been tensioned to its full extent, the stress upon the yarn is increased as a result. This occurs when the bottom of the traveler approaches the stop bar 28, and the meshes of the braid are being finally closed, and with greater uniformity in this action, the smoother will be the braid. The final closing of the meshes of the braid occurs while the cop is having movement, so that uniformity in the quality of the braid is determined largely by the resistance to the cop movement.

By using an elongated slot in the upright there is no substantial variation in the resistance to the run of the yarn from the cop to the traveler, irrespective of the portion of the cop from which the yarn is drawn. The upper stop 20 is so positioned that if the bottom of the traveler passes above same there will be increased resistance to the run of the yarn due to the friction resulting from the dragging of the yarn across this stop.

In a spirally wound cop, the point of the cop from which the yarn is being drawn varies constantly and extends from the extreme top to the extreme bottom of the winding of the cop. It is obvious that when the yarn is drawn from adjacent the top of the cop it passes downwardly to the traveler in passing through the slot adjacent the top thereof, and that when the yarn is being drawn from adjacent the bottom of the cop winding it will pass upwardly to the traveler through the slot adjacent the bottom thereof. The angle of the yarn in relation to the traveler and to the cop will vary constantly, but there will never be any sharp bends in the yarn even when it passes about the traveler when the yarn is being drawn from adjacent the top or the bottom of the cop. This materially reduces the variation in the resistance to the run of the yarn and. contributes toward a smoother braid.

During the movement of the carrier outwardly of the braid, and while the traveler is approaching the uppermost limit of its movement, the stresses applied to the yarn impart turning movement to the cop. The brake plate 3| offers sufiicient resistance to this turning movement to avoid creation of slack between the traveler and the cop, and close the meshes of the braid as described. When a full cop is in position upon the carrier, the turning movement of the cop, when withdrawing yarn therefrom with each impulse, is short, and the friction developed by this turning movement, is low. Consequently, the form of the brake shoe is made such as to exert the greatest pressure against the cop throughout the greatest contact area.

As the cop reaches its smallest diameter, the amount ofv movement of the cop with the. withdrawal of the same amount of yarn willbe more rapidand greater, and the friction developed will be proportionately higher. If the same contact area and. the same pressure were maintained as to the brake plate, the resistance to the turning movement would be relatively greater than with a larger cop, since the movement of thecop is one factor in developing the friction for resisting turning of the cop. The reduced tension of the spring 30 and the increased radial distance of the contact area from the point of pivotal support of the. plate will lower the resistance slightly, but

I have found it desirable to also decrease the contact area since, in this manner, I can secure a closer approximation to a uniform resistance than if the lowering of the pressure and of the efiective leverage of the brake plate were alone reliable.

. When the yarn is being drawn from the extreme bottom of-the cop, there is a tendency of the lowermost convolution thereof to slip from the cop, thus creating slack resulting in the dropping of the traveler and a momentary relieving of the stresses applied to the yarn in closing the meshes of the braid. The flange 33 of the cup is provided to prevent this. When the yarn is being drawn from this portion of the cup, it engages the top of the flange 33, this being a continuous circular flange. There is at this time, an upward pull on the yarn due to this engagement withsaid flange, which counteracts any tendency of ,the yarn to run below the winding upon the 35 .cop; a

While the bottom of the cop is shown as being mounted upon the bearing 32, if desired it may be fitted directly to the core l5, and the height or the flange 33 may be proportioned to 40 secure the desired lifting action upon the yarn.

With a -carrier having an elongated slot as herein described, it is possible to use in acarrier, cops of considerably greater length than would otherwisebe possible. The use of such cops is ,desirable because of the increased supply of yarn available, permitting a longer run of the braiding machine without stoppage for the replacement of. cops. t I V By controlling the yarn in the manner herein described, breakage of the yarn, except from inherent defects therein, is prevented, and weak spots in the yarn, which under ordinary conditions will result in breakage, do not cause breakage where the stresses applied to the yarnare limited in the-manner described.

While the-spring 28 may bulge, the amount of lateral movement of the coils thereof is limited by the guiderod 24. Hence, while it'is desirable to avoid such bulging, with a long .spring'it is sometimes unavoidable. This, howeven'will not interfere with the desired operation of the car-' rier. i 1

. By using round rods l8 and I3 and round stops 20 and 2|, likelihood of abrasion of the yarn is practically eliminated.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawing, it being apparent that such may be varied'without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:

1. A carrier for braiding machines embodying therein a base provided with a vertical spindle adapted to have a cop rotatably mounted thereon, and means whereby travel may be imparted to the carrier, an upright paralleling said spindle having a vertically elongated opening therethrough for the run of the yarn, and a lead-oft eye adjacent the top thereof, and means for controlling the-run of yarn from the cop and for applying tensioning stresses tothe yarn embodying therein a traveler slidably mounted upon said upright for movement along the portion of said upright having said elongated opening therein toward and from said lead-01f eye about which the yarn passes in its run from said opening to said lead-ofi eye, and a collapsible confining member at one side of. said upright, one end of which is engageable by said traveler, and the other end of which extends to adjacent said lead-off eye.

2. A carrier for braiding machines embodying therein a base provided with a vertical spindle adapted to have a cop rotatably mounted thereon, and means whereby travel may be imparted to the carrier, an upright paralleling said spindle having a vertically elongated opening therethrough for the run of the yarn, and. a lead-off eye adjacent the top thereof, and means for controlling the run of yarn from the cop and for applying tensioning stresses to the yarn embodying therein a traveler slidably mounted upon said upright for movement along the portion of said upright having said elongated opening therein toward and from said lead-off eye about which the yarn passes in its run from said opening to said lead-off eye, a spiral spring at one side of said upright, one end of which is engageable by said traveler, and the other end of which extends to adjacent said lead-off eye and means preventing lateral bulging of said spring.

3. A carrier for braiding machines embodying therein a base provided with a vertical spindle adapted to have a cop rotatably mounted thereon, and means whereby travel may be imparted to the carrier, two vertically extending, rounded rods paralleling said spindle and each other, said rods being spacedfrom each other, and stops extending from rod to rod across the space between same to form an elongated opening therethrough for the run of the yarn, and a lead-ofi eye adjacent the top thereof, and means for controlling the run of yarn from the cop and for applying tensioning stresses to the yarn embodying therein a traveler slidably mounted upon said rods for movement along the portion of said upright having said elongated opening therein, toward and from said lead-off eye about which the yarn passes in its run from said opening to said leadofi eye, and a collapsible confining member at one side of said upright, one end of which is engageable by said traveler, and the other end of which extends to adjacent said lead-off eye.

4. A carrier for braiding machines embodying therein a base provided with a vertical spindle adapted to have a cop rotatably mounted thereon, and means whereby travel may be imparted to the carrier, an upright paralleling said spindle having a Vertically elongated opening therethrough for the run of the yarn, and a lead-off eye adjacent the top thereof, and means for controlling the run of yarn from the cop and for applying tensioning stresses to the yarn embodying therein a traveler slidably mounted upon said upright for movement along the portion of said upright having said elongated opening therein toward and from said lead-off eye about which the yarn passes in its run from said opening to said lead-oil eye, a collapsible confining member at one side of said upright, one end of which is engageable by said traveler, and the other end of. which extends to adjacent said lead-off eye, a curved brake plate engageable with the winding of the cop, a pivotal support therefor, and a spring operative upon said plate to engage it with the winding of the cop.

5. A carrier for braiding machines embodying therein a base provided with a vertical spindle adapted to have a cop rotatably mounted thereon, and means whereby travel may be imparted to the carrier, an upright paralleling said spindle having a vertically elongated opening therethrough for the run of the yarn, and a lead-ofi' eye adjacent the top thereof, and means for controlling the run of yarn from the cop and for applying tensioning stresses to the yarn embodying therein a traveler slidably mounted upon said upright for movement along the portion of said upright having said elongated opening therein. toward and from said lead-oh eye about which the yarn passes in its run from said opening to said lead-01f eye, a collapsible confining member at one side of said upright, one end of which is engageable by said traveler, and the other end of which extends to adjacent said lead-off eye, a curved brake plate engageable with the winding of the cop, a pivotal support therefor, and a spring operative upon said plate to engage it with the winding of the cop, said plate being so formed as to progressively decrease the contact area between same and the cop winding with a lessening diameter of said winding.

6. A carrier for braiding machines embodying therein a base provided with a vertical spindle adapted to have a cop rotatably mounted thereon, and means whereby travel: may be imparted to the carrier, an upright paralleling said spindle having. a vertically elongated opening therethrough for the run of the yarn, and a lead-off eye adjacent the top thereof, and means for controlling the run of yarn fromthe cop and for applying tensioning stresses to the yarn embodying therein a traveler slidably mounted upon said upright for movement along the portion of said upright having said elongated opening therein toward and from said lead-off eye about which the yarn passes in its run fromsaid opening to said lead-01f eye, and a spiral spring at one side of said upright, one end of which is engageable by said traveler, and the other end of which extends to adjacent said lead-oft eye, whereby therun of the yarn within said spiral spring and between said traveler and said leadoff eye is confined, and ballooning thereof isprevented.

7. A- carrier for braiding machines embodyingtherein a base provided with a vertical spindle adapted to have a cop rotatably mounted thereon, and means whereby travel maybe imparted to the carrier, an upright paralleling said spindle having a vertically elongated opening therethrough for the run of the yarn, and a lead-01f eye adjacent the top thereof, and means for controlling the run of yarn from the cop and for applying tensioning stresses to the yarn embodying. therein a traveler slidably mounted uponsaid upright for movement along the portion of said upright having said elongated opening therein, toward and from said lead-off eyeabout which the yarn passes in its run from said opening to said lead-ofi eye, a spiral spring at one side of said upright, one end of which is engageable by said traveler, and the other end of which,

extends to adjacent; said lead-off eye; whereby the. run of the yarn within said. spiral spring: and between. said traveler and: said leads-off eyeis:

confined; and. ballooning thereof is prevented,

and a guidev rod paralleling said. upright: and in:- closed. within said spring.

8.. A. carrier for braiding: machines embodyingtherein: a base provided with a vertical: spindle adapted to have a cop rotatably mounted:- thereon,

and means whereby travel may be imparted to. the carrier, an upright paralleling said spindle.

having a vertically elongated opening there-- through for the run of the yarn, and a lead-01f" eyeadjacent the top thereof, and means for-con trolling the run of yarn from. the cop and for applying tensioning stresses to the yarn embody-- ing therein a traveler slidably mountedi upon said upright for movement alongthe portion: of said upright having said? elongated opening therein toward and from said lead-off eye about which. the-yarn passes in: its run from said opening to said. lead-off eye, aspiral spring at oneside of said upright, one end of which i's'engageable by'said traveler, and the=other-end' ofwhich extends to. adjacent said lead-off" eye, whereby the run of the yarn Within said spiral spring and between said traveler and said lead-off eye is confined, and ballooning thereof is prevented and means preventing lateral bulging of said spring;

9. A carrier for-braiding machines embodyingtherein. a base provided with a vertical spindle adapted to have a cop rotatably mounted thereon, and means: whereby travel maybe impartedto the carrier, an upright paralleling said spindle having a vertically elongated opening therethrough for the run of' the yarn, and a lead-offeye adjacent the top thereof, and means forcontrolling the run of yarn from the cop and for applying tensioning stresses to the yarn embodying therein a traveler slidably mounted upon said upright formovement along the portionof said upright having said elongated opening therein toward and from said lead-on eye about which the yarn passes in its runfrom said opening to said lead-01f eye, a spiral spring at one side of said upright, one end of which is engageable by said traveler, and the other end of which extends to adjacent said lead-off eye, whereby the run of the yarn within said spiral spring and between sa-id' traveler and said lead-off eye is confined, and ballooning thereof is prevented, and a guide rod paralleling said upright and inclosed within said spring.

10. A carrier for braiding machines embody"- ing therein a base provided with a vertical spindle adapted to have a cop rotatably mounted thereon, and means whereby travel may be imparted to the carrier, two vertically extending rounded rods paralleling said spindle andeach other, said rods being spaced from each other, and stops extending from rod to rod across the space between same to form an elongated opening therethrough for the run of the yarn, and a lead-01f eye adjacent the top thereof, and means for controlling the run of yarn from the cop and for applying tensioning stresses to. the yarn embodying therein a traveler slidably mounted upon said rods for movement along the portion of said upright having said elongated openingtherein toward and from said lead-off eye: about which the yarn passes in its run from said open-- ing to said lead-off eye, a spiral spring at one side of said upright, one end of which is engageable by said traveler, and the otherv end of which extends to adjacent said lead-off eye, whereby the run of the yarn Within said spiral spring and between said traveler and said lead-off eye is confined, and ballooning thereof is prevented, and a guide rod paralleling said rods and inclosed within said spring.

11. A carrier for braiding machines embodying therein a base provided with a vertical spindle adapted to have a cop rotatably mounted thereon, and means whereby travel may be imparted to the carrier, an upright paralleling said spindle having a vertically elongated opening therethrough for the run of the yarn, and a lead-off eye adjacent the top thereof, means for controlling the run of the yarn from the cop and for applying tensioning stresses to the yarn, embodying therein a traveler slidably mounted upon said upright for movement along the portion of said upright having said elongated open ing therein toward and from said lead-off eye about which the yarn passes in its run from said opening to said lead-off eye, and a collapsible confining member at one side of said upright, one end of which is engageable by Said traveler, and the other end of which extends to adjacent said lead-off eye, and a cup having a continuous, circular flange extending about the bottom of the winding of the cop below the bottom of said elongated opening embodying therein means whereby it may be mounted in relation to the cup.

12. A carrier for braiding machines embodying therein a base provided with a vertical spin-v dle adapted to have a cop rotatably mounted thereon, and means whereby travel may be imparted to the carrier, an upright paralleling said spindle having a vertically elongated opening therethrough for the run of the yarn, and a lead-01f eye adjacent the top thereof, means for controlling the run of yarn from the cop and for applying tensioning stresses to the yarn embodying therein .a traveler slidably mounted upon said upright for movement along the portion of said upright having said elongated opening therein toward and from said lead-off eye about which the yarn passes in its run from said 

